Environment
Preschoolers thrive on rhythm and consistency while they learn new skills and explore new activities. Our classrooms are bright and spacious and provide many opportunities for children to get messy and learn.
Our Whole Child Curriculum supports all aspects of preschooler's academic and social/emotional development. In our everyday moments, we teach language development, phonics, math skills, creative art, and playtime and drama.
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Curriculum
Language Development
Language in the preschool classroom is one of the most important aspects of their developmental milestones. They are able to communicate their name and age, speak up to 500 words, and answer simple questions. Music, poetry, and storytime is a fun and exciting time as the students sing along and elaborate on the stories told.
Phonetic awareness and the beginnings of written comprehension are introduced and guided through the day. Using a variety of materials and opportunities, children will be able to name the letters of the alphabet, colors, remember parts of a story, recognize and identify common objects and pictures.
Counting and number concepts at Wellspring are a strong part of our daily activities. Getting plates ready for lunch, counting out cups needed, sorting veggies pulled from the garden, and selecting the right number of spoons needed for your friends are all-natural ways that children engage in number comprehension. We use everyday objects to teach concepts including, patterns, one-to-one correspondence, time concepts, sorting, and number formation.
Numbers
Handwriting
Three-year-olds are usually eager to leave their mark on this world. They naturally pick up markers, paintbrushes, pencils, and chalk to create, draw, and communicate. Our three-year-old program will teach them how to form letters and numbers as it corresponds to our Whole Child Curriculum. Wellspring lays the firm foundation for future success.
Loving, kind, and compassionate relationships cultivate a sense of feeling and belonging. Supportive teachers can facilitate friendships, communicate emotions, and talk through how to deal with challenges that arise. Children can develop trust, compassion, empathy, and a sense of right and wrong in an environment that is strong and positive.
Three-year-olds are beginning to understand social and relational constructs. They are finding pride in their independence, but still crave that support and structure as they navigate these strange lands of peer play, taking turns, and problem-solving.
Social and Emotional
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Three-year-olds continue their fast-paced development started in the two’s. They can more accurately kick, throw, and catch a ball, bend over without falling, ride a tricycle, and run more confidently. It’s imperative for their growth and development that children have different surface textures, levels, and challenges. Our classroom movement and natural playground intrinsically call for children to use all of their body strength and develop skills.
Three-year-olds are becoming much more nimble and eager to manipulate the environment around them. They are eager to dive into a craft project using scissors, markers, and folds. Wellspring offers many opportunities to explore their surroundings and build their confidence in their ability to be independent.
Music is such an integral part of our development and how we connect and communicate together. Wellspring uses drama plays, multiple forms of music, poetry, and instruments to help facilitate the natural movement of children. They will memorize and act out poems and plays, as well as have a world of materials to create their own magic. Activities such as sewing fabric, painting backdrops, using toys and materials, and writing down words to a new play are all encouraged here at Wellspring Preparatory Academy.
Music and Movement
Sensory
Sensory isn’t just for the younger children. All children (including most adults) are naturally drawn to new and interesting textures, smells, sounds, tastes, and sights. We continue our philosophy of the Whole Child Curriculum and help expand their world. We introduce new veggies/fruits to try, bring in materials that engage the imagination, plant new herbs and flowers, and our natural playground is a magical place where children can explore new textures and sights.
Art time is all the time here at Wellspring Preparatory Academy. During language development, number concepts, handwriting, imaginative play, and outdoors, all art and creativity are encouraged. We use many materials including watercolors, clay, beeswax, paint, coloring, buttons, yarn, sewing, gluing, and what we find in nature.
Art
Outdoors
Wellspring Preparatory Academy is Whole Child-focused. We believe that all children do best when they are allowed to explore nature and are exposed to different situations in a safe and secure environment.
Our natural playgrounds are created to inspire creativity, imagination, and enable children to use their developing skills to jump, run, and climb. As well as a restful play to enjoy a picnic, chat with friends, or read a book under a tree.
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